Today I am thankful for miracles. Our West Bend Daily News reported two front-page stories on December 24th that left me speechless. Both were 16 year old boys, friends of our family and one a member of our church, who came close to death and are forever changed because of the experience. Andy, driving home one evening from the YMCA, slid on a patch of ice on an isolated country road. His car hit a ditch, spun 360 degrees and hit a tree. Andy gained consciousness to see flames on the hood of his car and a woman removing him from the vehicle. Within seconds the car blew up. His rescuer was a nurse on her way home from the Children's Hospital, running late because of a shift delay. Her route was different from usual because she had to stop at the grocery store. Andy survived with injuries that were considered minor in comparison to what could have happened...a concussion, bruised lungs, a broken collar bone, scrapes and bruises. Ron and Trey spent a week this summer with Andy fishing in Canada. Andy and his cousin played basketball for Ron and have always been good peer models to our kids. I worked at the hospital with Andy's mom, also an RN, so this experience was personal for us. Andy's rescuer Julie Kapla said, "I definitely believe God had a bigger plan for (Andy). I was there for a reason, I'm just thankful he was able to walk away from that."

Today in church an athletic, energetic, cheerful 16 year old, James Neuberg, and his family shared an amazing event that occurred a few weeks prior to Christmas. A persistent nosebleed resulted in a trip to Children's Hospital and a brain scan revealed an aggressive tumor had actually eaten through the bone in his skull. It was a massive size--in fact James' mom said the doctors had to expand the tumor grades to a 4+ as it was the biggest they had ever seen. Within 24 hours of the diagnosis James underwent two separate surgeries, one to cauterize blood vessels to prevent excessive blood loss and the second surgery was to remove the tumor. The first surgery took nearly 6 hours. They were relieved that he survived the first surgery without incident as one blood vessel inadvertently blocked could have resulted in a stroke.

During the second surgery the following day the family was alerted to extreme complications in trying to remove the large mass. Christy, James' mom, said the nurse called them in the waiting area and explained it might be many more hours of painstaking surgery as the tumor was much more embedded in James' brain than expected. Routine landmarks like the nasal cavity were essentially invisible to the surgeon--it was like working in a dark hole. Christy's dad and the rest of the family got to their knees immediately praying for a miracle and at the same time over the loudspeaker at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School, the entire student body was asked to pray. In addition, Christy signed onto the Caring Bridge site from the hospital computer to request more fervent prayer. Less than 30 minutes since the nurse's call from the surgery room to expect many more hours of surgery, the nurse called Christy again to say the tumor had just "popped out" and they got it all. Christy shared with Kettlebrook Church today that the surgeon explained in detail how the fingerlike projections or "tentacles" of the tumor just seemed to release their grip. Christy said the terms used by the surgeon in describing the sudden release of the tumor were essentially the exact terms prayed to God by James' grandfather in the hospital's chapel. To see this young man, so strong and energetic at the front of the high school auditorium today, one would never have suspected that just a few weeks earlier he was undergoing life-saving brain surgery.

In common West Bend style, Ron went to school with James' mom and coincidentally saw her and her daughter at Pier 1 on December 21st. Ron and Auburn were looking for a new papazzan chair cushion as a diversion from events earlier in the day, as that morning our dog died. Bucky had used Auburn's papazzan cushion as his bed for many years and it was time for a replacement. When they ran into Christy and her daughter at Pier 1 she offered her daughter's papazzan cushion for Auburn to save us money. She said they were planning to take it to Goodwill the next day and it was in perfect condition. Christy never even mentioned their family's recent experience to Ron, she only showed compassion to Auburn in her sadness.

When I saw the newspaper article a few days later and heard the Neuberg's speak at church today I was astounded. Miracles happen every day---our interactions with one another have purpose...we all have struggles, sometimes we share them and sometimes we keep them silent....nonetheless our lives intertwine in unexpected and miraculous ways, sometimes in person or sometimes across the miles via media like Caring Bridge and facebook

My hope for my family and for yours is for miracles to be revealed to us all in 2012. Whether it be your health, your finances, your family, your children, your relationships; may our interactions at school, at the gym, at work, at the store, or on the road build strength, faith, love and hope in 2012.

Kelly Zellmer

1/2/2012 12:10:55 am

An amazing story you just shared. I knew about both incidents and prayed for James and his family. But you bring more to the stories showing that they were true miracles and showing how God works in his precious, mysterious ways! If that can't change our attitude on life and the way we see things, not much else can. I wish you and your family all the best in 2012!

Gloria Braswell

1/2/2012 04:07:50 am

Tiff, I have chills all over from reading this inspiring blog filled with such miracles. They are such a testament to what our awesome God can do as He works among us through friends, professionals and those with whom we may be in contact with at a given time...There are always angels among us! Proud to call you my daughter! Have a miraculous New Year!! I love you ~`mom

Tiffany

1/2/2012 05:23:25 am

Thank you for your comments. It took more effort than I would like to admit to attend church New Year's Day. Something about the snow, wind, and late night made us indecisive and rather confrontational as a family that morning--but all the more reason to go...and, as is usually the case, our perspective and attitudes were much improved from the experience.

Jennifer

1/5/2012 08:46:10 am

Tiffany another excellent well thought idea. As my sister always says, God has a way of putting us in a position that will benefit others. Here's to Bucky may he be playing among the other dogs in heaven and remembering his great family.